Humanoid Wins Robot Marathon

Now Humanoids are winning marathons! Robovie-PC, a toy-sized humanoid won the world’s first full-length marathon for two-legged robots by a few seconds on Saturday. Robovie-PC won the challenge by beating its closest rival by a single second after more than two days of racing.

Five robots began this non-stop 26.2 mile contest on a 100 meter indoor track in the western Japanese city of Osaka Thursday morning. One of the robots retired after finishing only the first lap while the other continued running day and night.

Robovie-PC, 16 inches tall and weighing 5.3 pounds ran into first place with only a few laps to go after Robovie-PC Lite, its competitor suddenly locked up. The robot managed to return to the track and after 422 laps Robovie-PC crossed the line in 54 hours 57 minutes 50 seconds.

Their average speed was 0.77 kilometers per hour.

Both the robots were made by Vstone Co., a robot technology firm based in the industrial city. Competitors were allowed to change batteries and servomotors which control robot’s speed and other functions.